EASTON, Pa. – The Lafayette track and field team opens its 2013-14 indoor season on Friday and Saturday when the team travels to Bethlehem for the Fast Times Invitational. The meet is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. on Friday and resume at 9 a.m. Saturday morning.

WOMENThe women’s team will be led by senior captains Elise Buffinton, Rachel Pena and Rose Willey, and return a solid nucleus from last season including a pair of Patriot League champions. The women were chosen to finish seventh in the Patriot League preseason poll after placing sixth in last season’s indoor Patriot League Championships.

Devin Smith and Erin Keen will lead the sprinters after successful campaigns last season. Smith won the 400 meter dash at the Patriot League Indoor Championship and finished fifth in the 200m. Keen currently ranks eighth all-time in the indoor 400m.

Haley Langton will look to lead the Leopards in the longer sprints, as she ranks ninth all-time in the indoor 500m. Freshman Drew Davis will also make an impact in the sprints for Lafayette.

In the hurdles, a pair of sophomores will lead the group. Sally Trout finished fifth in the 60m hurdles at the Patriot League Indoor Championships, while Dejana Harris finished seventh.

Senior Rose Willey and sophomore Stephanie Benko will lead the way in the distance races. Willey and Benko finished seventh and eighth, respectively, in the 3000m last season.

Junior Grace Watters paces the middle distance, finishing last season’s 1000m in 3:00.23. Reigning Patriot League Cross Country Rookie of the Year will look to continue to make a splash in the winter season.

The field events are led by last season’s Patriot League Champion in the pole vault, Buffinton, and the runner up in the weight throw, Pena. Buffinton qualified for the ECACs last season with a vault of 3.75m, while Pena also qualified with a throw of 17.59m. The duo also earned All East Honors at the ECAC meet.

Junior Claire Murphy and freshman Mara Blanchard look to make an impact in the vault. In the jumps, Brittany Powell will lead the way. The junior finished second in the triple jump and ninth in the long jump last season.

Sarah Talmadge finished fifth in the shot put and 16th in the weight throw during her rookie campaign. Freshman Laura Oh is a newcomer who should make an impact in the throws this season.

MENThe men’s team will be led by captains, Mac Maguire and Andrew Warshauer. The men were chosen to finish seventh in the Patriot League preseason poll after placing sixth in last season’s indoor Patriot League Championships. The team is young and is looking to improve on last year’s finish.

Patrick Donohue and Chris Castello finished fifth and eighth at last winter’s Patriot League Indoor Championships in the heptathlon. The duo is primed to improve on their finishes from last campaign and contend for a title this season.

Jarrel Bobb does a little bit of everything, as he will also contribute in the jumps for the Leopards. The Bushkill, Pa. native ranks ninth in the indoor long jump and will also compete in the triple jump. Freshman Austin Wiles is Lafayette’s best option in the high jump, holding a personal best of six feet four inches.

The Leopards return a lot of experience in Maguire and Juannell Riley, who each qualified for the IC4A Championships in the hammer throw last season, and will continue to lead the group this year. Freshman Patrick Corcoran should make an immediate impact this winter.

The Maroon and White open their winter campaign on Friday and Saturday at the Fast Times Invitational in Bethlehem. The Patriot League Indoor Championships are slated for Feb. 21-13 at Bucknell.

Lafayette Athletics, as a partner in the mission of the College, provides and incredibly effective
learning experience for student-athletes through competitive NCAA Division I
athletics. Lafayette sponsors 23 varsity sports with more than 600 student-athletes.